english apple
Beneath the big blue sky
Port Meadow is a large area of common land to the north and west of Oxford. The meadow is an ancient area of grazing land, still used for horses and cattle, and has never been ploughed. In return for helping to defend the kingdom against the marauding Danes, the Freemen of Oxford were given the 120ha of pasture next to the River Thames by King Alfred, who founded the City in the 10th Century. The Freemen's collective right to graze their animals free of charge was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 and has been exercised ever since.
It runs from Jericho to Wolvercote along the east (left) bank of the River Thames, with the railway and the suburb of North Oxford further to the east, and the village of Binsey to the west. It is a typical English floodmeadow and is a favourite area for walking, with easy access from the city of Oxford. At the southern end of the meadow is Fiddler's Island in a loop of the river Thames. In the winter the meadow floods and, if frozen, forms a huge and safe area for skating. In late spring vast areas are carpeted with buttercups. Horses, cattle and geese graze the meadow and many birds can often be seen.
Beneath the big blue sky
Port Meadow is a large area of common land to the north and west of Oxford. The meadow is an ancient area of grazing land, still used for horses and cattle, and has never been ploughed. In return for helping to defend the kingdom against the marauding Danes, the Freemen of Oxford were given the 120ha of pasture next to the River Thames by King Alfred, who founded the City in the 10th Century. The Freemen's collective right to graze their animals free of charge was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 and has been exercised ever since.
It runs from Jericho to Wolvercote along the east (left) bank of the River Thames, with the railway and the suburb of North Oxford further to the east, and the village of Binsey to the west. It is a typical English floodmeadow and is a favourite area for walking, with easy access from the city of Oxford. At the southern end of the meadow is Fiddler's Island in a loop of the river Thames. In the winter the meadow floods and, if frozen, forms a huge and safe area for skating. In late spring vast areas are carpeted with buttercups. Horses, cattle and geese graze the meadow and many birds can often be seen.